Bard Medical is a leading manufacturer of urological supplies including catheters, catheter bags, and catheter stabilizers. These products work in conjunction to help people who cannot control their bladder. Foley catheters and external catheters require a drainage bag to collect urine, since they are used for a longer period of time. Intermittent catheters do not need drainage bags because they are only inserted into the body while the bladder is being emptied. They are then thrown away. Bard also makes supplies to go along with your catheter, such as foley stabilization devices. Your doctor will inform you on which style of catheter is best for your needs.
External catheters, also called condom catheters, are used by men to treat urinary incontinence. A condom catheter is a thin sheath that is rolled onto the shaft of the penis. Once the sheath is applied, catheter tubing will need to be attached. A drainage bag or bottle is connected to the opposite end of the tubing to collect urine. In order for your external catheter to work properly, it is imperative that it fits correctly. Please see our blog for tips on choosing the correct condom catheter size.
Bard makes several indwelling foley catheters in various sizes and tip styles to suit your needs. This type of catheter has a hollow balloon at the end. After insertion, the balloon is filled with sterile water to anchor the catheter in the proper place. This will prevent it from coming out. Like intermittent catheters, Foleys are available with a straight tip and a coude tip. A straight tip is the standard style, while the bent coude tip is ideal for maneuvering around an enlarged prostate or a urethral obstruction.
A foley catheter securement device is meant to hold your catheter in the proper position to prevent it from being pulled on or dislodged, which can cause discomfort and even urethral damage. Foley catheter holders are available in the form of straps or an adhesive pad. The straps wrap around the thigh and have a loop to hold the catheter lumen in place. The adhesive pads stick to the body and have a swiveling clamp for the catheter to sit beneath.
Drainage bags are used with external catheters and Foley catheters to collect urine. The two types of drainage bags are leg bags and overnight catheter bags. A leg bag should only be worn during the day while you are up and moving. An overnight bag is meant to be worn while sleeping. If you were to wear a leg bag at night, the urine would not drain into the bag properly and will cause backflow. A night bag hangs below the bed to allow for proper drainage. Our blog will teach you how to change a catheter leg bag to a night bag.
